Developing Innovation AGents for SMEs Erasmus Project

Project Title

Developing Innovation AGents for SMEs

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships addressing more than one field

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context/background of the project:
Strategic Partnership
DIGAS – Developing Innovation Agents for SME’s
The inspiration for the DIGAS project origins from the successful Danish ESF project “IGA”, Innovative Globalisations Agent (www.iga-project.dk) that came to an end in March 2015.
The consortium behind the DIGAS project consists of partners from Spain, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Denmark. The project has furthermore spread to other European countries through the SPACE network.
The DIGAS project has been an European project focusing on bridging students and graduates from studies with high unemployment rates with SMEs in need of academia when striving to bring their business abroad.
The activities have therefor been both transnational and cross-cultural. Both for the SMEs involved, for the trainers, and for the students and graduates.
Objectives:
The project addresses the European target: “foster citizens’ potential and ensure employability” by:
• Matching companies need for young graduates with VET competencies
• Smoothing transition of young labor market entrants – with education with low employment rate – to the labor market by integrating world of work in the last year
• Enhancing better skills matching
• Stimulating higher competitiveness for SMEs in a global market and opening the SMEs for new employee groups
Number and profile of participating organisations:
• Pic: 950186490, Tietgen Denmark (lead), Organisation, Other
• Pic: 949316982, Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen, Other
• Pic: 949506035, FLORIDA UNIVERSITARIA, Other
• Pic: 942767639, SPARK, Other
• Pic: 944733441, Istituto Formazione Operatori Aziendali, Other
• Pic: 950182222, SPACE European Network for Business Studies and Languages, Other
• Pic: 949241613, Högskolan Arcada Ab, Other
• Pic: 944452723, V.A. Graiciuno aukstoji vadybos mokykla, Higher education institution (tertiary level)
Describtion of undertaken main activities:
Management
• Management report 2014-2016
• Biannual Management Report
• Plan for the project results sustainability
• Plan for the consortiums future
Training programme adaption for European focus
• Best practice collection
• Programme and learning materials development
Analysing academic competencies versus company needs
• Mismatch pattern report
Pilot training
• VET training for unemployed and/or last year students
• Pilot project report
Platform for internship and real life assignments
• Platform
• Online support
Quality monitoring and evaluation
• Impact Audit report
• Digas quality and evaluation plan
• Compilation of Status reports
• Expert review
Dissemination
• Dissemination strategy and plan
• Project website
• Project identity manual and templetes
• Leaflet and brochure
• Video
• International conference
International conference
• AGM SPACE/DIGAS conference, Ghent, Belgium
LTT-activities: Intensive studyprogrammes for learners and Short-term joint staff training events
DIGAS: Results and impact attained:
The target groups were first and foremost graduates, students and SMEs. In addition to these target groups other relevant stakeholders were
• NGO’s
• former partners and Co-operators and potential partners
• HEIs and VET adult learning centers,
• Local, Regional and National governments
• NPO’s
• Universities and other members of educational associations in partner countries
• Labour market participants
The DIGAS project has clarified that SMEs are in need of academia when going abroad. It has also clarified that graduates and student, when given VET competencies, can create jobs in SMEs. Jobs that are not present before academia is introduced. Therefor this project will contribute to creating brand new jobs, leading to growth.
‘Europa 2020’ is the EU’s growth strategy for this decade. In the executive summary of ‘the Europe 2020 strategy’ three mutually reinforcing priorities are put forward. They are:
• Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation.
• Sustainable growth: Promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy.
• Inclusive growth: Fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion.
The activities in the DIGAS project have supported these growths pillars.
From the beginning of the project the consortium outlined a dissemination plan (see attached) in order to make sure that the results would reach the target groups and stakeholders.
We fully believe to have achieved this aim. As an important part of the dissemination plan we set out to create a website including a platform where the different members of the target groups and stakeholders can reach each other, even after the duration of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 241005 Eur

Project Coordinator

Tietgen & Country: DK

Project Partners

• ARTESIS – PLANTIJN HOGESCHOOL ANTWERPEN
• Stichting SPARK
• FLORIDA CENTRE DE FORMACION SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA
• YRKESHOGSKOLAN ARCADA AB
• V.A. Graiciuno aukstoji vadybos mokykla
• ISTITUTO FORMAZIONE OPERATORI AZIENDALI
• SPACE European Network for Business Studies and Languages